Please beware of the growing number of Scammers who are now targeting automotive websites. The scams are not new but have taken on a new life via the internet.The basic premise is that someone from another country will buy your car and say that they are sending payment for more than the selling price, all you have to do is send the difference to someone who he owes money to. The emails can be very creative but operate the same and will leave you out a substantial amount of money.
New for 2008: If you send serious dollars to someone with a yahoo, hotmail or other free email account and lose your money, please do not contact us. That is akin to handing $100 bills to a guy in a dark alley. No way to follow them home. Apologies to those with legit dealings on these email domains but you are in the minority.
Please beware of the growing number of Weasels who are now targeting automotive websites, including our Classifieds.The basic premise is that someone from another country will buy your car and say that they are sending payment for more than the selling price, all you have to do is send the difference to someone who he owes money to. The emails can be very creative but operate the same and will leave you out a substantial amount of money.
Here are some of the standard emails:
Beware!
From Glen:
I have received a email that this person is interested in this item. his email address is w_i_l_l_y_01@yahoo.com. his name is Billy. iam selling my item for 100.00 plus shipping. he sent me a check for 3000.00. that is way more then the selling price. I received his check by ups with a po box address. he had called my house a few hours after delivery inquiring about the check and what to do with it. I was not home when he called. I have a feeling that this guy is trying to steel peoples identity. if you could pass this on to you members that would be greatFrom Williams Jeff
Hello i am interested to buy your 68 Camaro project car ok the is price and would lke to know your present offer for it and its condition.You can send its pics as well and which you to send the inform payment which is you 1.Name 2. Address(City,State,Zip code,Country): 3. telephone numberFrom Frank-cool cool
This dude is a real weasel, although Mr. Cool-cool does give quite a few members a laugh at his attempt to be, shall we say, Cool?
-- Hello i am interested to buy your 67 Camaro SS 350 4-spd ok the is price and would lke to know your present offer for it and its condition.You can send its pics as well and which you to send the inform payment which is you 1.Name 2. Address(City,State,Zip code,Country): 3. telephone number
Here are more real world examples from users of the classifieds here on our site:Note: 2007 shows a number of yahoo email accounts using this scam:
I will tell you a few words about the car.
It is in imaculate condition ,rust free , no schrach and hasn't been involved in any accident. The motor runs very well.The interior looks great.This car needs nothing,The title is clear ,it is not a salvage one.The title is clear and you can register it anytime in US without a problem and without paying any import fees. The price I hope to obtain for this beauty is $6,000US.It was my father-in-law car .The reason I'm selling it is because my father-in-law died two weeks ago.
A $3,000US deposit will be accepted prior to shipping and the remainder will be covered upon receiving and inspecting the car.I think this is a very good offer.I'm sorry i have to sell it, but my loss will be someone`s gain, hopefully yours.I realize this is a low price for such a a great car, but my special situation makes me do things that i would't do in normal circumstances and belive me it's not easy at all for me to sell this car . The car is now in United Kingdom (London) as my father-in-law lived there.I am now here as i took care of the funerals.Because i can't carry all his things back home i am selling them.
I am willing to sell it and shipp it to any of the UE countries or to US.I know that the price is low but i have no use for the car and I want to get back home as soon as i sell it.
I want to sell the car asap so I am willing to pay the shipping fees nomatter of the location. You will get the car with proper custom papers, clear title,bill of sale signed by me as well ,so if you agree with the price we can start the arrangements at this point.I'm a serious seller and a fair trader and I prefer to deal only with a serious buyer. If you consider yourself one please e-mail me back so we can start our deal.
My best wishes and I'm waiting your response.
Scam Alert!!This toad emailed me, the site admin
I am Terry Dion and am interested in the purchase of your Car to my Store in UK, I will like to know your final Price for the car that is not more that is not more than$5000,and if you accept US money ORDER or CASHIER as a mode of payment. I will be taking care of the shipment Through my shipping company in United Kingdom.
They would be coming for the Pickup of the car after the payment has been made to you, Please I will like you to reply me with your Full name, address and your contact telephone number so that I can send you the Payment and as well inform the shipper for pickup, becouse I will be leaving the town very soon to see my dad. Hope to here from you soon. You can get back to me on this e-mail grockcock@yahoo.co.uk Best Regards.
Terry.Hello Sir,
Thanks for your response am a citizen of usa and now i and my family's are in holiday in UK so will are willing to buy the car for our son birthday coming up soon sir.
I will like you to do me a favor sir i want you to know that i have make arrangement for the car pick up as soon as the payment is made to you, the shipping company will not ship the car until they have they payment with them.
My son birthday is coming up in few weeks from now and it takes 4weeks before a cheque can be clear in they bank.
Sir i want you to help me and my family to get this car as a surprise to my first son coming birthday.
They shipping fee is $10,000 because it because it takes 3 to 5 days for cheque to clear in our country USA i want to add both the shipping and car payment together so as for you to help us to clear it together.
And as soon as the cheque clears you will dedute your car fee and send the shipping to them.
I await for your response sir.
Regards.
Here are some real world examples from users of the classifieds here on our site:
Provided by: Jaye
I would like all the sellers of classic cars who advertise on the internet about a scam that I almost got caught in.
A man from Africa contacted me regarding my 67 Chevelle I advertised for sale. He said he would like the car and has a man in the USA that owes him money. He would send me a cashier's check for $20950 at which time I would then mail him the balance of $9950 minus the cost of wiring money to a business manager in London.
He then would have arrangements made to have the car shipped to his country. All I had to do was wire the "change" and sign my title. The check came as he said and 4 days later I was able to take the money out of my account. I was at Western Union handing over $9000 and the agent with Western Union told me of the scam. I would have been out $9000 +++. Sellers beware. If the man can't get to your house hold onto the car and the cash you have. The cashiers check would have bounced in 2 weeks, even bank checks go bad contrary to popular belief.
A new variation on this is as follows:
Someone will contact you about Parts that you may have for sale and tell you that a client in US will send you more money in check form and you are to send back the difference. It varies, but basically goes along the line of: someone owes them money so they will have the person send you the BIG check for your parts, and being such a nice guy, you should send them the difference. Within a week or two this 'certified' or 'bank draft' will bounce off the ceiling and they will have your money.
I thought I'd warn you guys (and your members) that there is an individual out there trying to scam people on sites like yours. I posted a car I'm parting out and have had great success selling parts from it. That is until I got an e-mail from james.
He wants to have a third party send me a check for more money than I'm wanting for the rest of the car, and then I'm supposed to send the extra money on to his shipping company. I've ran into deals like this before. The guy sends you a counterfit check which you cash, then send money back to his "shipper". By the time the check bounces, he's made off with your money.
Just thought I'd let you guys know. You have a great site and I don't want to see it ruined by the likes of this guy. I've attached part of his e-mail below. Maybe you can post an announcement, or warn your members somehow.
thanks,-Jeff
hi, >>thanks for your reply, >>the price is ok by me, >>please i have instructed >>my client who is owning me >>a sum of $2000.00=. to pay and issue >>to you directly,cashier bank check, >>payable to your name,while i will be having >>a balance of $1500=,on the bank check, >>so i will be pleased,that you will assist me >>send the said balance of $1500 to my shipping >>agent for the pick up of the car. >>To send the balance money to shipping agent >>is through MONEY GRAM,ok. >>kindly send to me urgently, >>your full name and your address and your phone number, >>in which my client will send the check to, >>urgently.October 2003
I am writing you to tell you about a serious scam. i have my car advertised on your sister site (camaros.net) 9-11-03. i was contacted by a Douglas Smith wanting to know if i would ship the car to Singapore. I told him if he paid for the shipping i would. So the transaction started.
I recieved the check today. $23,580 worth of fake check. people are falling for this. i asked $18,000 for the car and was to western union, the rest to him once the car shipped. my wife called the bank the check was drawn on and they told her it was a scam. warn people against the names Douglas Smith, Mike Lawrence, & John Bradford. this is serious, serious business. they get your money, your car, and you are out of luck. If my wife hadn't been so sharp i would have been screwed.
GaryIf you have further information or are contacted by someone offering to pay more for your car via cheque or money order if you cover other expensive costs, contact the link below and report it.
One common item I've noticed is they don't ask pertinent questions about the car or dicker. They just say it's what they want and will pay. yah, sure. Sounds great, but we all know what things that sound to good to be true are....
October 14th, 2003
Scam Alert
This guy Douglas Smith is still up to scamming.
I recieved a check for some part I had posted on your web site.
Thank God Western Union alerted me to this guy. I was about to wire his shipping agent
MR.ADEWUNMI MONDAY.8,AHMADU BELLO WAY,
VICTORIA ISLAND,LAGOS.
ZIP CODE 23401.NIGERIA.
$5,000.00 plus.This time he did ask the right questions about the parts and sounded like one of us discussing his car.
Let others know these guys are bad news.
Thanks
Frank
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